Stony iron - PAL Belarus, CIS

Brahin is a pallasite, a stony-iron meteorite — the most uncommon class of meteorites (representing 0.2% of all meteorites) which are arguably the most beautiful extraterrestrial substance known. Now offered is a section cut from such a meteorite. A mesmerizing mosaic of sparkling olivine and peridot crystals are showcased. First found in White Russia in 1810, the designation, pallasite, is in honor of the German scientist, Peter Pallas, who discovered the first pallasitic mass in 1749 in Siberia. This is an honor Pallas is most fortunate to have received, for he fervently believed until his dying days that the unusual specimen he found could not possibly be from outer space. Of course, it was.

This offering displays five cut and polished surfaces topped with the meteorite’s gleaming exterior. Originating from the mantle/core boundary of a shattered asteroid, the crystals, including facet-grade olivine or peridot (birthstone of August) simply dazzle whilst suspended in the polished iron matrix of what was the asteroid’s core.

Christie's would like to thank Dr. Alan E. Rubin at the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles for his assistance in preparing this catalogue.


72 x 61 x 48mm (2.75 x 2.5 x 1.75 in.) and 985.7g (2 lbs)